Cabinteely F.C. -v- Cobh Ramblers Match Report

Last minute drama again at Stradbrook!

For the second consecutive match at Stradbrook, the last kick of the game was decisive. After experiencing the high of equalising late on against Finn Harps, this time Cabinteely experienced the low of conceding in the last minute. After going two nil up, Cabo only came away from the game with one point thanks to the 94th minute equaliser.

The drama began before the game even kicked off, Cabinteely were forced into a change after Evan Whelan picked up an injury in the warm up. Sean Hyland came into the starting lineup for his debut.

Eddie Gormley’s side got off to the dream start, the crowd were still filing into Stradbrook when Cabo found themsleves two goals to the good. The first goal came when Cabinteely pressure resulted in an Evan Finnegan half volley being deflected into the Cobh goal off Dunlea.

Cabo quickly doubled their lead, a lovely through ball from Shane O’Neill picked open the Cobh defence and played Ger Pender through on goal, he showed great strength to hold off a challenge and a cool head to slot the ball calmly into the bottom left corner. The perfect way to mark his 21st birthday!

To Cobhs credit they responded very welland began to create chances of their own. Waters who impressed throughout would have been scratching his head at half time as to how he had not got himself on the scoresheet. The striker had a number of great chances but all of which went narrowly wide or were denied by Hyland or the woodwork. In the end it was Shane O’Connor who got the goal for Cobh, he found himself at the back post to score from close range to make it 2-1.

Cabo amost immediately came close to regaining their two goal cushion when Kevin Knight rose highest in the Cobh box to head his effort goalbound. His brilliant effort looked destined for the net but was headed off the line.

O’Neill went off injured just before the half and he was replaced by Stephen Dunne who was making his debut for the club. Dunne is another player who played for Cabinteely as a schoolboy, in total seven of the 18 players in the squad last night played underage football with Cabo. (Sean Hyland, Kevin Knight, Stephen Hanley, Ross Broderick, Jamie Broderick, Conor Foley and Stephen Dunne) This is a pathway that hopefully many more Cabinteely players will follow.

Cabinteely started the second hal brightly and kept chasing their third. Pender was played in and he looked to have done everything right but his shot rolled just wide of the far post. The next chance fell to Stephen Dunne, after beating two challenges he curled an effort that was saved onto the crossbar. Cabo again just inches away from extending their lead.

Cabo continued to press and came close again when Evan Finnegan rounded the Cobh goalkeeper outside the box, Finnegans cut back to the onrushing Conor Foley was behind him and Foleys outstretched leg couldn’t get the connection to turn it home. Almost immediately Foley was now provider, after beating one defender he found himself one on one with Hickey, he drew the keeper out and squared the ball to Pender who just had Murphy to beat, the defender had ran back onto the line when Hickey came out. Pender’s shot was blocked by some brave defending on the line.

For all the missed chances Cabinteely had to secure the three points, they soon found themselves on the edge of their box defending their lead as Cobh chased a point. In the 94th minute, Cobh snatched a point right at the death. A corner was swung deep to the back post where Frahill sent a looping header that found it’s way into the Cabo net.

Next up for Cabo is Drogheda away this Friday night in the cup. Cabinteely’s next home game is against Athlone Town on the 12th of June.